Runner for vehicle-wheels.



E. ROGERS.

RUNNER. FOR VEHICLE WHEELS.

12211101111011 FILED DEG. 7, 1911.

Patented May 20, 1913.

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EDWARD ROGERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RUNNER FOR VEHICLE-WHEELS.

Application filed December 7, 1911.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD Rooms, a

citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, county andState of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements inRunners for Vehicle-VVheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to improvements in runners for vehicles.wheels and more particularly to a kind to be employed in converting awheel vehicle into a sled by attaching runners to said wheels.

The principal object of my invention is to construct a runner in suchmanner that it can be quickly and easily attached to and detached from awheel, without in any manner changing the construction or condition ofthe wheel, and will when secured in operative position bear a load equalto the load sustained by the wheel without danger. of breaking orclislodging therunner.

Other objects of the invention are to con struct the main supportingmembers in such manner that they can be adjusted to fit wheels ofdifferent widths of tread, and to provide means for adjusting saidsupporting members so that wheels of different diameters can beaccommodated to produce the best results.

With these ends in view I have devised a runner for vehicle wheels andmeans for securing said runner to the wheels as hereinafter fullydescribed in detail and the.features of merit and novelty pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a runnerattached to a wheel in operative position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of thesame with the wheel removed and the supporting rod on one side brokenaway to show the construction. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in detailtaken on the line YY Fig. 1. Fig. 4; is a detail view in plan of theforward end of the metal runner. Fig. 5 is a detail view in elevation ofthe rear end of the runner. Fig. 6 is a detail view in plan of the rearend of the metal runner. Figs. 7 and 8 show a modified form wherein thesupporting members and link connected therewith are of integralformation.

In the practical application and construc- 1 Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May 20, 1913. Serial No. 664,375.

wood and bent into the form shown in Fig. 1.

3 is a metal runner bent to conform to the under contour of the woodenrunner 2, to which itis attached in any suitable manner. On the forwardend of this metal IUIlIlQI 3 an eye or loop 5 is formed in the mannershown in Fig. 4:. The center of this loop 5 is cut away, as shown at 5,to receive the free end of a link 7.

The main supporting bars 8, 8 extend from the rear end of the runner, inapproximately parallel relation, to a point in front of the vehiclewheel where they are bolted together and to the link 7. The upper end ofthe link 7, or that portion nearest the rim of thewheel, is providedwith an opening 10 through which passes a bolt 12 carrying a nut 18. Theupper ends of the supporting bars 8 are also provided with'openingssimilar to the opening .in link 7 through which passes the bolt 12. Thelower ends of the supporting bars are also provided with openings whichregister with the loop 14 formed'in the rear end of the metal runner 3.The supporting bars are fastened to the loop 14 of the metal runner inthe same manner as the link 7 is fastened to the loop 5 on the forwardend of the metal runner, that is by means of a bolt 15. The link 7 andthe supporting bars are bolted together at a point forward of the wheeland on a horizontal plane best adapted to carry the runner forward whenthe vehicle is moved. In the lower or free end of the link 7 I haveprovided a plurality of bolt holes so that I am enabled to lower thesupporting bars and link in a manner to bringthe bolt 12 to the properhorizontal plane to accommodate wheels of difierent diameters.

By referring to Figs. 2 and 3 one of the important features of myinvention is fully disclosed which is that of making the supporting barsadjustable to accommodate wheels of different treads. To do this Ipreferably use a plurality of washers 20, an equal number of which areplaced on bolt 12 on each side of the link between the supporting bars,particularly shown in Fig. 3. The bolt 15 which engages the supportingbars and the rear end of the runner 3 also carries washers 22 for thepurpose of adjusting the lower ends of said supporting bars. When it isdesired to adjust the supporting bars in closer parallel relation forwheels of smaller tread, the bolts 12 and 15 are taken out and one ormore of the washers removed after which the parts are again boltedtogether. To hold the wheel in proper position on the runner and-preventsaid runner from side wise movement I preferably place plates 30 on eachside of said runner directly below the axis of the wheel. By slottingthe plates as shown at 32 I can adjust the same to accommodate wheels ofdifferent diameters. In order to prevent the runner from slippingbackward when the vehicle is in motion I attach to one of the supportingbars a chain 40 which passes around the rim of the wheel and by anysuitable means is attached to the other supporting bar.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a modified form wherein the supportingbars and the link portion 51 are made of one piece when it is desired tomake the device for a wheel of given diameter. These bars can be madeadjustable in parallel relation by using the washers 20. and 22 in thesame manner as hereinbefo-re described. In the employment of my device Ifindthat these runners can be applied to the front wheels of automobilesand will give desirable results in steering the machine over snow andice.

Of course it is obvious that certain details of construction can bevaried without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Claims.

1. A runner for vehicle wheels, comprising a runner body, laterallyadjustable side supporting members freely attached to the rear end ofsaid runner body, and means adjustably attached-to the forward end ofthe runner body and secured to'the side supporting members at a point infront of the wheel and below the axis of the same.

2. A runner for vehicle wheels, comprising a runner body, parallel sidesupporting members adjustable in parallel relation and to the forwardend of said runner body and secured to the side supporting members at apoint in front of the wheel and below the axis of the same.

3. In a runner for vehicle wheels, the combination of a runner bodyadapted to be placed under a vehicle wheel, a metal runner attached tosaid runner body, side supporting members pivotally attached to saidmetal runner at the rear end thereof and a link'attached to said metalrunner on the forward end of said metal runner, said link and supportingmembers being pivotally attached together in front of the wheel andbelow the axis of the same.

4. In a runner for vehicle Wheels, the combination of a runner body, ametal runner attached to said runner body, side supporting memberspivotally attached to the rear end of said metal runner, a linkatt-ached to the forward end of said metal runner and pivotally attachedto said supporting members in a manner to engage the periphery of saidwheel and means for fastening said supporting members to the rim of thewheel.

5. In a runner for vehicle wheels, the combination of a runner body, ametal runner attached to said runner body, side supporting memberspivotally attached to the rear end of said metal runner, a link attachedto the forward end of said metal runner and pivotally attached to saidsupporting members in a manner to engage the periphery of said wheel,means for fastening said supporting members to the rim of the wheel andadjustable means carried by the runner body for engaging the wheel atits base.

, EDWVARD ROGERS.

Witnesses N. A. COURTLAND, WVILLIAM R. RICE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

